Dinnerware finishing machine



Feb. 26, 1952 H. G. ALLEN ET AL DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

I fan \ww X INVENTORS HOWARD G. ALLEN ROBERT W. WATKIN STANLEY KUFEL, JR.

} EDWARD I FISHER M Mv flfiorz e ys Feb. 26, 1952 H. G. ALLEN ET AL 2,587,271

DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 22/ Z20 \ZO/ 222 \NVENTORS HOWARD G. ALLEN ROBERT W. WATKIN STANLEY KUFEL JR.

EDWARD l. FISHER BY 1952 H. G. ALLEN ET AL DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE '7 Shee'tsSheet 5 Filed Dec. 1, 1948 WATKIN STANLEY KUFEL, JR EDWARD l' 1 14% VQZM'I.

.fifiorne y's INVENTORS HOWARD s. ALLEN .-ROBERT w.

FISHER BY Q Q H. G. ALLEN ET AL DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE Feb. 26, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 1, 1948 7 "I'll '"I'l INVENTORS HOWARD G.- ALLEN ROBERT W. WATKI N STANLEY KUFEL JR.. EDWARD I. BY Myv'fim.

FISH

Feb. 26, 1952 H. G. ALLEN ET AL 2,587,271

DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A INVENTORS HOWARD G. ALLEN ROBERT W. WATKIN "STANLEY KUFEL, JR. EDWARD l. FISHE flfi rnegs Feb. 26, 1952 5, ALLEN 2,587,271

DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1948 7 She tsSheet 6 HOWARD G. ALLEN ROBERT W. WATKIN STANLEY KUFEL, JR.

Z75 EDWAR I. FISH Z75 BY 27/ I 7/ INVENTORS Patented Feb. 26, 1952 2,587,271 DINNERWARE FINISHING MACHINE Howard G- Allen, Niagara Falls, N. Y., Robert W. Watkin, East Liverpool,

Ohio, Stanley Kufel, Jr., Cheektowaga, and Edward I. Fisher, Kenmore, N. Y., assignors to The Edwin M. Knowles China Company, Newell, W. Va.

Application December 1, 1948, Serial No. 62,888

24Qlaims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in the manufacture of dinnerware and the like from plastic material such as clay, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for performing certain operations on dried green ware after it has been pressed and jiggered,

and before firing.

After dishes, plates, bowls, or various other objects of dinnerware or the like have been pressed and jiggered, they have a rough fin of flash about their edges which at the present time, is removed manually after the ware has been dried to what is known in the art as a "green condition. The present method and apparatus provide automatic means for treating the edges of ware to remove this objectionable flash or fin and leave the edges of green ware smooth and accurately and uniformly rounded before the ware is fired.

Further, the present method and apparatus treats the pressed surface of the ware to remove certain imperfections which remain after the ware comes from the-pressing an jiggering apparatus. These imperfections occur in the Well portions of the ware where it has been pressed against the mold and constitute, generally, minute random protuberances resulting from imperfections in the mold surface.

The method and apparatus of the present invention amounts to much more than a mere mechanization of previous manual methods since the mode of operation followed in manually treating the edges of green ware to remove the flash is not susceptible, from a practical'standpoint, of mere mechanization. The "present method and apparatus attains the desired 'end result by a basically different treatment of the edges of the ware. In prior art practice it has been usual to scrape the edges of the ware to roughly remove the flash and then Wipe'the edges of the ware with a moist cloth or sponge to smooth the same. Obviously, this procedure produced work lacking in uniformity and of varying quality, and the considerable manual handling resulted in a high percentage of breakage of the green ware, the latter being quite fragile and delicate before firing.

The absolute uniformity of the edges of ware which are finished automatically, both as to contour and the degree of smoothness, results in Ware of superior quality to any heretofore produced in these respects. Further, the entire elimination of the factor of human error in the. handling of the green ware reduces to an insignificant amount the breakage of ware which has been brought to this stage of completion. The handling of ware after firing is, of course, not nearly so delicate a matter as before firing,

While the method and apparatus of the present invention are useful and usable in acting upon workpieces of this general class regardless of the methods and apparatus by which their manufacture is brought to the point where the present method and apparatus begins, the present invention may be employed to particular advantage in conjunction with automatic ware-forming machines to provide a continuous and completely automatic manufacturing process preparatory to firing of the ware. Reference is had by Way of example to pressing and jiggering apparatus shown in United States Letters Patent to Walter H. Emerson, No. 2,321,471, dated June 8, 1943, and No. 2,362,058, datedllovember 7, 1944.

In using the pressing and jiggering apparatus of the foregoing patents, the ware passes to a drier by Way of a conveyor system which handles the ware in the pressing and jiggering machine and carries it continuously through the drier to an unloading station. This conveyor system is illustrated in further Letters Patent to Walter H. Emerson, No. 2,261,149, dated November 4,

In one convenient mode of practicing the pres-. ent invention the present apparatus may be arranged to take the green ware directly from the conveyor system disclosed in the patent last enumerated above without intermediate handling. According to the method shown in the Emerson patents, articles such as plates, bowls or the like are pressed in inverted position upon molds which form the inside of the ultimate dish or 'bowl and the molds themselves rest upon rings'which are fixed to the conveyor system, the molds being successively lifted from the rings in the pressing and jiggering machine and returned tothe rings after pressing and jiggering has been effected.

The ware remains on the top of the mold in inverted position as its passes through the drier and until it reaches the unloading station. In one form the apparatus of the present invention is arranged to pick the ware off of the molds at the unloading station of the foregoing conveyor system and subsequently treat it to finish the interior surface or well thereof and also finish the edge preparatory to firing.

The conveyor which brings ware from the pressing and jiggering apparatus through the drier and to the apparatus of the present invention is not uniform in its action and is subject to sur- 'ging. The present apparatus accommodates it-. self readily to this condition by automatically be.- ginning a cycle of operation upon the arrival of a piece of ware on the conveyor at the proper position for reception by the apparatus of the present invention. After the present invention completes a full cycle of operation, which is accomplished in any event before the arrival of the next piece of Ware on the conveyor, operation of the present apparatus automatically terminates until such subsequent pieceof ware reaches a proper reception position on the conveyor, when a subsequent cycle of operation again automatically begins.

In the preferred form of apparatus shown herein by the Way of example the operation is highly flexible since very simple adjustments, requiring no dissassembling or interchanging of parts, set. the machine to handle ware of various diameters and depths. The apparatus works just as effectivcly on festooned or otherwise irregularly ornamented edges as it does on truly circular ware.

While. a full and complete embodiment of one mode of practicing the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the following specification to comply with the patent statutes, it. is to be understood that the spirit of the invention is not limited to the machine shown by way of example, and that many mechanical modifications may be made without departing from the principles taught herein. The scope of the invention is not limited excepting as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a general top plan view of one form of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a general elevational view of the machine with portions thereof broken away and other parts shown in cross-section for added clarity of illustration, the view being taken generally from the direction indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, excepting as to the lower drive portion which is taken directly from the left of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the means for introducing the ware to the apparatus viewed generally from the upper side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line, 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line 6-6 .of Fig. 3-; v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line lT of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the means for inverting the ware in the process of introducing it to the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-4 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of mechanism for centering the ware on the work holding turrets of the apparatus with a portion thereof in cross-section;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a work holding turret with one of the centering elements of Fig. 10 acting against a piece of ware;

Fig. 12 is a general elevational view of the mechanism for performing the final finishing operation on the edge of a piece of ware;

Fig. 13 isv a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing only a portion of the mechanism in another phase of its cycle of operation;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the final finishing mechanism in idle position between cycles of operation;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mechanism for scraping the fin or flash from the edges of ware prior to the final finishing operation;

Fig 16 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the mechanism of Fig. 15 taken approximately on the line I6-|6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'7 is a detailed perspective view of one of the scraper elements employed with the mechanism of Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a schematic view showing the sequence of operations of the scraping elements; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevational view of the mechanism for brushing the well portions of the ware to smooth the surface thereof.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, like characters of reference denote like parts. The form of machine set forth herein by way of example comprises generally a rotatable table 25 having a plurality of equally spaced turrets 25 mounted thereon for receiving and supporting work pieces. The table is adapted tobe 5 dishes serially to the position indicated at 28 in Fig. 1.

This chain may be the same as or similar to the chain at the unloading station of the aboveidentified conveyor patent to Emerson, although,

of course; it is not necessarily so. The element indicated at 28 in Fig. 1 is the mold part which rests upon a ring attached to the conveyor and upon which the piece of ware is pressed and jiggered, the upper surface of the mold conforming 5 to the inner contour of a plate, bowl, or other piece of ware. The piece of ware continues to rest on the mold through the drying step and until it is removed at the unloading station.

,Still referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 38 designates an arm which is. arranged to oscillate from a position above the mold 28 to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. l to move successive pieces of ware to a receiving, turn-over and centering station which is designated generally 32 in Fig. 1. At the turn-over station the ware is moved from its inverted position to an upright position and is deposited on a work-receiving turret 2B, and means are provided for accurately centering the dish relative to the turret before the application of suction to the turret to secure the piece of ware firmly thereto.

The next successive circumferential work station is designated generally 33 in Fig. 1 and includes means operable automatically to scrape the edge of the dish to round it off and remove the fiash which results from the previous forming of the ware, as described previously herein. Means are also provided at the scraping station designated 33 for brushing the inner surface or well of the dish or other ware to remove the slight protruding imperfections from the surface of the dish in this area, again as referred to previously herein.

From the scraping station the ware-carrying turrets 26 move to a final edge finishing station designated 34 in Fig. 1 where the edges of the work pieces are treated in a novel manner to smooth them quickly and efiicaciously and by a method not heretofore contemplated in the pottery art. This operation amounts to a very fine abrading or polishing step on the dry green ware with no accompanying liquid or moisture treatment.

So far as the present invention is concerned, the -edge finishing station is the final operaassmn tivestation with which the present invention is concerned. The next succeeding station designated 36 is an idle station so far as the present invention is concerned, although it may be utilized for other fabricating steps as occasion may arise. The station designated 31 in Fig. l is the removal or discharge station, and the removal or discharge arm is designated 38 and is arranged to swing from the removal station to a position indicated at 39 for delivering the work from the machine.

The general drive of the machine is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and is housed within a base element 40 which also rotatably supports table 25. The input drive of the machine is to a cam shaft 42 which is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3, cam shaft 42 being driven by a chain and sprocket drive designated 43 in Figs. 2 and 3, the driving power coming from any suitablermotor drive or other power supply. At its opposite end cam shaft 42 carries a sprocket 44 which is connected by means of a chain 45 to a sprocket 46 which is fixed to the input shaft of a conventional right angle gear drive unit 41, whose output shaft projects upwardly therefrom and is designated 48 in Figs. 1 and 2.

Table 25 has a fixed central supporting shaft 50 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 5! carried by base element 40, and shaft 50 projects downwardly through the upper wall of base element 40 and carries a Geneva wheel 52 at its lower end. Shaft 48 of the right angle drive unit 41 has fixed thereto an arm 53, the outer end of which carries a roller 54 for operating the Geneva wheel in the usual manner to oscillate it through an angle corresponding to the angle between the respective work stations described above and the usual arcuate locking block for holding the Geneva wheel 52 between oscillations by engagement with arcuate recesses in the periphery thereof is designated 56 in Figs. 1' and 2.

To assist in a general understanding, it may be well to point out at this time that cam shaft 42 and the Geneva operating shaft 48 havea 1:1 ratio. an initiation of an operating cycle is set off by arrival of a work piece at the entry station, in the position indicated by mold 28 in Fig. 1, and operates continuously and automatically through one complete rotation of cam shaft 42 andGeneva shaft 48.' Means in the form of a limit switch 55, Fig. 1, may be provided for energizing a main drive motor or for engaging a clutch to start a cycle of operation and other means may be provided upon cam shaft 42 for terminating the operation when such one complete rotation ends, in the nature of a cam or the like, or the input end of cam shaft 42 may incorporate a conventional single revolution clutch.

Generally speaking, the various cams,'1evers and other operating instrumentalities are shown, throughout the several views, in the positions they occupy between cycles; that is, when the machine is at rest and waiting for the arrivalof a piece of ware at the appropriate point for initiating a cycle of operation, the first portion of which is devoted generally to indexing table 25 to advance each turret to the succeeding work station. Certain exceptions to the foregoing statement about the relative positions of the parts in the drawings will be noted as the present description proceeds.

Disposed above the top of base 40 is a further plate-or table element 51 which appears in Figs. 2 and 12 and may be fixed relative to the general The operation of the machine is cyclic,

framework of the machine in any desired mannor as by means of vertical plate members, one of which is designated 58 in Fig. 12. Plate 51 has a circular opening concentric with table 25 and has fixed thereat shroud or guard ring 59 which extends upwardly beneath the marginal edge of table 25 and cooperates with plate 51 to serve as a guard for the mechanism therebeneath.

Reference will now be had particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 through 6, the latter group illustrating in detail the construction and operation of the mechanism for picking up ware from molds on the conveyor, moving the ware to a position of vertical alignment with a turret. at the entry station, inverting the ware to a right side up position, and subsequently depositing it upon the turret 26.

Pickup arm 30, Figs. '1 and 3, is fixed to a shaft 69 which is rotatable and slidable in a bearing 6| fixed to the top of base 49. The showing in Figs. 1 and 3 of pick-up arm 39 is one exception to the above statement pertaining to the relative positions of the various parts since the idle position of pick-up 39 between cycles is mid-way between the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and the position where the outer end of pick-up arm 39 is concentric with mold element 28 on the conveyor mechanism.

The swinging and raising and lowering movements of pick-up arm 30 arederived from cams fixed to the cam shaft 42. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, shaft 69 has a sleeve 64 fixed thereto and one arm of a raising and lowering bell crank for shaft 69 is designated 65 and is connected to sleeve 64 by means of a link 66 which is pivoted at its opposite ends to sleeve 64 and the outer end of arm 65. The other arm of the bell crank is designated 61 and carries a cam follower 68 which engages a cam 69 on cam shaft 42. The shaft and pick-up arm 39urge link 66 downwardly by reason of their weight, and the follower 68 is accordingly held yieldingly against cam 69 by the force of gravity. Obviously, a rise in the contour of cam 69 raises link 66 and accordingly raises pick-up arm 30.

A second cam designated 19 is fixed to cam shaft 42 and is shown in detail in Fig. 5. A second bell crank 11 has one arm 12 thereof extending beneath cam 10 and carries a cam follower 13 for engagement therewith. The other arm of bell crank 11 is designated 14 and extends generally upwardly, having at its upper end a yoke member 15 which is pivoted to arm 14 for free rotation about a horizontal axis.

Shaft 60, in addition to sleeve 64, has a pair of arms 11 and 18 fixed thereto, and the outer ends of arms 11 and 18 support a shaft element 19 which is parallel and spaced from shaft 60. It will be seen from the foregoing that oscillation of the bell crank 11 by cam 10 will swing yoke 15 in a plane perpendicular to Fig. 3 and thus swing shaft element 19 and oscillate arms 11 and 18 to thus oscillate pick-up arm 39 between the mold position designated by the numeral 28 and the first turret station 32.

The cams 69 and 19 are so timed that, at the beginning of the cycle of operation, arm 30 swings from a mid-position to a position vertically coincident with mold element 28. Cam 69 then falls off in contour so that pick-up arm 39 lowers and a suction pick-up pad 86 at its lower end engages an inverted piece of ware on mold 28 from above. After having picked up the dish, arm 39 again rises due to a rise in the contour of'cam' 69 and then swings to the position illus-' trated in Figs. 1 and 2 through the operation of cam "I of Fig. 5, acting through rocker arm II andofiset shaft 19. The pick-up arm 30 need not raise or lower in'the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. As appears from Fig. 3p-ick-up arm 38 is pivoted to a'clamp element SI as at 82, the clamp element being adjustably fixed to shaft 60, and the clamp element and pick-up arm have ledges which normally abut by reason of the action of an extension coil spring' 83. The vacuum line to pad 80 is designated 84 and includes passage portions or holes which extend directly through the abutting ledges of clamp element 3| and pick-up arm 30. If it should happen that a mold 28 on the conveyor chain did not carry a piece of ware when it arrived at the pick-up point, the action of the pad-80 would normally be to pick the mold itself off of the supporting ring of the conveyor. Introduction of a mold part to the finishing machine in this manner would seriously damage the machine if not detected.

However, by reason of the construction just described, if pad 80 began to lift a mold 28 from the supporting ring of the conveyor by reason of the absence of a piece of ware thereon, the much greater Weight of the mold element than the usual piece of ware would cause spring 83 to extend, pivoting the pick-up arm downwardly about pivot 82, the abutting ledges of clamp 3i and pick-up arm 30 would separate, breaking the vacuum line 8:1 and thereby immediately dropping the mold element back upon the supporting ring of the conveyor. As soon as the mold part is dropped and the spring 83 is relieved the pickup arm 38 returns to the illustrated position for the next pick-up operation. I

Apparatus for receiving the pieces of ware from the pick-up arm 39 and for reversing their position to dispose them right-side up is carried by a shaft 85 which is likewise supported for rotative and vertical sliding movement relative to the top of base 40 by means of a bearing 86 fixed to the latter. Ihe transfer and turn-over arm is designated 87 in Figs. 1, 3, and 8, and the mechanism for controlling its operation is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 through 9.

Turn-over arm 87 is fixed rigidly but adjustably to shaft 85 and gives bearing support to a shaft 08 which has a vacuum pick-up device 89 at its outer end and a pinion 90 at its inner end in registry with shaft 85. Shaft 85 is hollow, and a rod SI is slidable concentrically therein. The upper end of rod has a rack formation in mesh with pinion 90 so that up and down movement of rod 9I relative to shaft 85 rotates pinion 90, shaft 88, and accordingly vacuum pick-up element 89.

At its lower end shaft 85 has fixed thereto a sleeve 92 to Which is pivoted one end of a generally vertical link 93. The other end of link 93 is pivoted to the outer end of one arm 94 and a bell crank'SB which, like the bell cranks just described, has pivot bearing on the bottom wall of base 40. The other arm 96 of bell crank 95 has a follower 0! which engages the under side of a cam 98 on .cam shaft 42.

A bracket I00 is fixed to rod 9], extending through a slot formed in the side of shaft 85, and is pivoted to the upper end of a link IOI, whose lower end is pivoted to one arm I02 of a rock shaft, the other arm I04 of which is provided with a. cam follower I05 in engagement with a 08.111106 on'cam shaft 42. The operation of transferring a piece of wars from pick-211p;arni

30 to a turret 29, and inverting the piece of ware in the process willnow be described, beginning with the cams in the position illustrated inFig. 7.

In the position illustrated in Fig. 7, the turnover arm 81 and holder 89 have moved up to a maximum height and received ware from holder and lowered-to a point Where the turn-over begins. At this point there is a dwell in raising and lowering cam 98, and cam I06 has arising contour which raises link'I'0I and causespinion 90 to rotate and reverse the position of holder 89 through 180 about the axis of shaft 88.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a, pair of stop' lugs I08 and I09 are adjustably fixed to shaft 88 and. in the up position of holder 89 shown in Fig. 9, lug IE8 is in engagement with one sideof a'projection I I0which is fixed relative to arm 81. The rotating movement just described causes lug I08 to move away from stop -I I0 and causes lug I09 to move toward and against the other side of stop IIO when 180 of rotating movement of shaft 88 has taken place.

At this point in the operation the dwell of cam 98 ends and its contour again falls off so that bell crank oscillates in a counterclockwise direction and further lowers shaft 85 to move the ware down upon a vacuum holder of the turret 26 which is at the initial station'32. The several vacuum holders of turrets 26 are designated II2 throughout the several figures. When the ware is thus deposited upon a particular turret and after it has been centered thereon by means about to be described the vacuum holder II2 thereof is automatically energized.

The source of vacuum comes down through the central shaft 50 of table 25 and a separate conduit II3 therefrom leads to each turret 200i table 25. A valve device I I4 is interposed in each conduit [I3 and has a vertically movable valve part H5 and a valve shifting roller I I6. As shown in Fig. 2, valve part H5 is in its upper on position. It is moved to this position by a push rod II? supported by base 40 and extending downwardly where it is engageable by a cam (not shown) on cam shaft 52. The roller H6 of each movable valve part II5 registers vertically with push rod I I! when the particular turret with which it is associated is at the receiving and centering station.

The vacuum to each holder I I2 remains-on through the several succeeding work stations until the particular turret has almost reached discharge station 31 when roller H6 is engaged at its upper side by an abutment (not shown) which is fixed to the top of base 40 in position to cam roller I'G downwardly and 'thus disconnect the vacuum to the particular turret.

Following the depositing ofthe piece of ware upon holder II2 at'the initial Work station 32 and before the vacuum of holder H2 is turned on as just described,'th'e' ware is accurately centered relative to the turret 26 bymeans illus-'- trated in Figs. 1, 2, 10, and 11, particularly FigilO.

A column I2Il is rigidlysecured to bed '40 and 'rises upwardly therefrom to a position generally over the several work stations Where it supports an upper casing I2I which extends outwardly from column I20 over the table 25 and encloses certain operating mechanism to be described sub-' sequently. A drive shaft for the mechanism in casing I2I and for other functions'is designated I23 in'Fig. 2, and, as there shown, has bearing in base 40 and the upper and lowerwallsof'upper casing I2I; extending continuously from a point- 9. beneath the top of base 40 upwardly through column I and casing I2I. At its lower end shaft I 23 has chain and sprocket connection with the output shaft 48 of the right angle drive unit 41 as indicated at I25 in Figs. 1 and 2, particularly the latter.

The centering mechanism at the entry station designated 32 is supported generally by a bracket I26 which is shown best in plan in Fig. 10 and appears also in Fig. 2. Bracket I26 is suspended from casing I2I by means of a vertically extending bar I21 which is fixedv at its lower end to bracket I26 and is vertically guided by portions of casing I2I. The entire centering mechanism supported by bracket I26 from bar I21 is periodically raised'and lowered whereby upward movement clears the ware and permits its movement horizontally to and from the station 32. .Bracket I26 is also adjustable vertically to accommodate the centering mechanism to ware varying in depth in a manner which will presently appear.

" 'Referring to Fig. 10, three centering rollers of rubber or the like are designated I30, I3I, and I32, and one of these rollers is indicated fragmentarily in Fig. 11 in edgewise engagement with a piece of ware on a holder II2 of a turret 26. Roller I30 is supported for free rotation at one end of a rock arm I34 which is medially pivoted to bracket I26 as at I35 and has its opposite end pivoted to a link I36. Roller I 3| is rotatably supported at the end of one arm of a bell crank I38 whose other arm pivotallyengages the oppositeend of link I36. Bell crank I38 has fixed thereto a toothed sector I40 and the remaining centering roller I32 is supported from a pivoted arm I4I which likewise has fixed thereto a toothed sector I42. A pair of intermeshing pinions I 44 and I45 are journaled for free rotation in bracket I26 and the 'pinions I44 and I45 likewise mesh with toothed sectors I40 and I42, respectively. Rock arm I34 has fixed for pivotal movement therewith an arm I41 which comprises the operating arm for the centering rollers. It will be seen from the foregoing that oscillation of the arm I41 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in- Fig. 10 will swing the three centering rollers jointly away from the ware while 'oscillation in a clockwise direction will bring the three rollers into resilient edgewise engage- -ment with the ware to center the same. Movement of the centering rollers in this manner is "accomplished by means of a cam I which is fixed to vertical shaft I23 within column I20. Cam-I50 merely has a single lobe for momentarily moving rock arm I41 in a clockwise direction to the position illustrated in Fig. 10.

As viewed in Fig.2 a rocker arm pivoted to the machine frame as at I 5| comprises a rearwardly extending cam follower arm I52 and a forwardly extending arm I53 which pivotally, engages a link I54. An extension coil spring I55 retains the follower of arm I52 in engagement with cam I50. Link I54 acts upon a bell crank which has a forwardly extending arm I56, as viewed in Fig. 2, to which link I54 is pivoted, and an arm I51 which extends to the right and is pivotally connected to a link I58 which extends rearwardly therefrom,as viewed in Fig. 2, to pivotal connection: with arm I41. The medial fulcrum .support of bell crank I56, I51 is designated I59 and is adjustably supported at the outer end of an arm I60 fixed to a rock shaft I6I journaled in-the bottom wall of :casing I2I. v

.tion or the other, the rotation of bevel pinion A second arm I62 is fixed to rock shaft I6I within casing I2I and extends generally rearwardly as viewed in Fig. 2. The outer or rear end of arm I62 is bifurcated and carries a rotatable vertical pin I63 which is threaded to receive an adjusting screw I 64. A handwheel I65 for adjusting the centering means for ware of different diameters is journaled in casing I2I as shown in Fig. 2 and is connected to screw I64 by means of a universal joint I66. Screw I64 may thus be rotated to adjust the location of the fulcrum of bell crank I56, I51 in a manner which is believed to be obvious from the foregoing and such adjustment alters the limits of inward movement of rollers I30, HI, and I32 under the influence of cam I50 to adjust the centering operation to ware of various diameters.

The means for lowering the centering mechanism to present it to the ware and periodically raising it in timed relation with the indexing of the turret to clearthe ware, and also the means for adjusting the height for the centering mechanism to suit ware of various depth, will now be described. Referring to Fig. 2, a lever I15 is pivoted medially to a yoke I16 and one of its ends is bifurcated as at I11 to engage a block I18 which is pivoted to the bar I 21 which supports the centering mechanism bracket I26.

A cylindrical cam I is fixed to shaft I23, and the opposite end of lever I15 is provided with a cam roller IBI. In the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the centering mechanism, including bracket I26 and vertically sliding guide bar I21, is biased to its working position by gravity, and its downward limit of movement is determined by the engagement of follower I8I with a low point in the contour of cylindrical cam I80. As cam I80 rotates, the depth of its contour increases to a maximum, the left end of lever I 15 is depressed, and its right-hand is accordingly raised to raise bar I21 and the centering mechanism until the latter clears the ware and permits the movement 'of one turret away from the initial station and permits insertion of another piece of ware by arms 30 and 81.

When it is desired to adjust the centering mechanism vertically to center ware of a different height, a hand wheel I 84 is manipulated. In Fig. 2, the numeral I85 designates a supporting bearing bracket which rotatably supports a pair of meshing bevel pinions I86 and I81. Pinion I86 has driving connection with hand wheel I84 by means of an intermediate shaft I88 and a pair of universal joints I89 and I90. Pinion I81 rests upon a bearing portion I9I of bracket I85 and is threaded internally to engage an adjusting screw I92, the lower end of which engages through yoke I16 and has a retaining nut I93 which permits screw I92 to raise and lower yoke I16.

When hand wheel I84 is rotated in one direc- I81, which is restrained against axial movement, causes screw I 92.to raise or lower, and thus raise or lower yoke I16 and, by changing the fulcrum of lever I15, raises or lowers block I18 and thus adjusts the vertical disposition of the centering mechanism in both its up and down positions as it is reciprocated vertically through the operation of cam I80.

.. .While the inserting and centering operation is being. automatically performed, at the work stationdesignated 32 in Fig. l, the preceding piece of ware is at the station designated 33 in Fig. 1,

where its center well portion is automatically brushed to. smooth its surface as indicated in l1 Figsffl anew; while the edge scraping operation previously alluded to is automatically performed at the same station, the mechanism for which Will be" described subsequently herein.

The brushing mechanism is illustrated in Figs; 1, 2, and 19 and will now be described. The brushing mechanism"m'oves" up and down cyclicall-y in timed relationship with the indexing of table 25 to move the brush element down into brushing engagement with the center'wells of successive pieces of 'Ware'and to move up out of theway to permit successive pieces of 'wa're to move to and from the brushing and scraping statibii';

In Figs. 2 and l9 the numeral 200 designates a vertically slidable" supporting bar for the brushing mechanism, guides therefor in upper casing l2l being designated 20! and 202 in Fig. 2.

.fiXed -toji'ts lower end'. Bracket 2041s normally .heldsiixed'to'bracket 203 by 'mean'sf of a flanged threaded btishingiflfl and a cooperating'nut 210, J

the latter having a radially projecting bar or handle 2H so that nut 2l0 may readily be loosened to'swing bracket 204'"and thus adjust the position of brush 208 in a horizontal plane.

Bearing" 205gives rotatable support to an intermediate brush 'drive'shaft 2 l 2 which is restrained against axial 'mo'vementrelative' to' bearing 205. Brush 208 has anindepende'n't drive motorwhic'h maybe mounted upon the top of upper casing l2l and is designated 2I3 in Fig. 1. is belt con'nected', as 'at 214 to a shaft element 2l5' which is rotatable ina bearing 216 fixed to the upper side of casing I21 by means of a bracket 211.

Shaft element 2l5 is heldagainst axial movement relative to hearing" 2| 4 and is internally splinedtoreceive aspline formation2l8 at'the upperend of'intermediate shaft 2l2. The'lower end'o'f intermediate shaft 2 l2 has belt and pulley connection with brush shaft 201' asat 2 l8 in Fig.-'19.' The'foregoing construction permits continu'ous driving of brush 208 from motor 213 Without interference with nee vertical adjusting movement of the; assembly compr'isi'ngguide bar 200foutboard bearing brackets 203' and 204, f

shafts 201 and 2I2, and the brushing element 208'itself.' V

Referring to Fig. 2, a lever 220 is pivoted intermediately to a yoke 22| and one of its ends is bifurcated as at 222 to engage about a block 223 I1? which is pivoted to guide bar 200. The opposite end of lever 220 has a cam roller 225'which engages a cylindrical cam 226 and the contour of the latter alternately rises and falls to raise and lower the brushingv mechanism between an-upper idle 'work clearing position and the lower working position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 19.

It is desirable to provide vertical adjustment for the brushing mechanism to compensate for wear of the brush and to suit ware having differentbasestyles It is further desirable that this adjustment be made simply and accurately so that'the brushmay be selectively brought into brushing engagement with the surface of Ware With-just the right degree of brush pressure, and

232 of casing I2] and has screw threaded 'e'n-' Motor 2l3 gagem'enti*iwithi i'anadjustingr screw 230.1. A mating beveli pinion 234 engages pinion 23rtaand is -adapted to be -rotated by am adjusting hand wheel 235 "which connects with the" supporting shaft of pinion' 234" by means ofan intermediate shaft 236 and a pair of universal joints 231 alnd 238t' It is desired ma-t the: turrets .26 be rotated on their-respective axes to rotate the wear on holder's ll2 whenever"a particular turret is at either-"the scraping-station 33 or the: edge finishing station designated- 34." This result is achieved automatically by and uponmovementof a turret to either orthe'se two work stations by means illustrated in Figs. 1 and 12. Referring to Fig. 12, which shows aturret 2fi at the final edg finishing station, a plain frio'tiondrive-wheelf 250 is securedcoaxially'to thelower 'end'of theisupporting shaft of each turret =26 beneath t-abl1e 25.

Referrmg'nowto Fig. 1, a pair ofv -be1t-ipu1leys 251 Tan'd'252 are "carried by vertical shafts mounted I in bearings secured to the top of ba'sertidn as at 253Tin' Fig. 12C: The-"shaft of pulley 252=Iprojects downwardly through the upper; wall: of base :40 and" is'provided with"a drive pulleysz-is; ..In-Fig. 12i' thwross-sectiohai plane is irregular; in. the interests of more complete illustration: Therefore,- pulley 255 is shown'in Fig'il2 although the upper part of the shaft of pulley 252 and pulley 252 itselfare cutaway.

Referring now to- Fig. 1, the scraping station 3'3' i s' also providedwith a pair of pulleys 251and 250 atthe same level andiin the same manner as the pulleys 251 and 252, and the shaft of 'pulley 258' extends below-the top of base 40 where it'carries-av-belti'drive pulley 260 corresponding to pulley 255v of the'edge finishing station. The foregoing belt. drivejhas aniindependent driving motor 26lwho'se outputgpulleyf2fi2is connected to pulleys-255 and 260fby: meansofa belt 263. A belt .265extendingabout pulleys25l and 252 and a.belt..266. extendingabout pulleys 251 and 258 are inconstant operation when the machine is running by reason of continuous operation of motor26h- Whenever-.21. turret.moves to either of thestationsN33 01:,34. its frictio'n drive wheel 2502' engages-against the fiat back. of the .v-belt associated with the particular. work station, either 2 05- or'i'20B,- respectivel-y. .-and .the turret --is automatically seteinto rotation. r

The mechanism forautomatically :scraping from-the edges of the-wareathe'fiash: or fin occurring asi'a resultof the :methods of manufacture-by which the ware is brought .to this stage will now be describedj- -having reference particuarly-'to-Fi'gmi and'Fi-gs. 15 through 18..-A scraper element per se is shown-'- in-Fig-.-17 andcomprises a flexible: blade 2210* fixed to a 1 horizontal pivot shaft 211' journa-ledr in a block-.212, the-latter having-a vertical pivot sha-it21 3 A radial 214 extends from- Y the scraping blade for; manipulation: thereof and the blade: is biased -sof that its outerscrapingedge 215- faces somewhat-downward;-as shown in Fig; 17, by virtue fo'f anextension' coil spring 216 which tends to rotateshait 21t'in a clockwisadirectionas viewed Fig: 17,: suchrotati'on being limited by engagement-aria. pin:211" carried by shaft 21I against a stop pin '218 fixed to block 212: Howeven" a downwardforce on wing 214 will rotate shaft 21I against theresistance of'spr'ing 21B and cause blade 210t'o rotate therewith and direct its 'scrapin'g edge somewhat upwardly.

A complete cycle oflmovementbf fthe scraping edge of blade 210, which scrapes the edge of the somewhat friable green ware in a resilient trailing fashion, is shown schematically in Fig. 18. In Fig. 18 the letter A designates the rest position of the scraper relative to the edge of a piece of Ware designated 280. The position of initial contact with the edge of the ware is generally Vertical and is designated B. The blade is then rotated to roll the scraping edge under the edge of the ware as at C, then reverses and rolls upwardly over the edge of the ware to the position shown at D, and then returns successively to initial scraping position B and idle position A, it being understood that the piece of ware is continuously rotating on its supporting turret during the foregoing scraping cycle.

As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of scrapers 210 are mounted interchangeably on a turntable or turret 284, which is rotatably mounted upon a boxlike casing element 28!. Referring to Fig. 15, casing 28! has a sleeve 282 fixed to itsunderside and sleeve 282 fits rotatably over .a cylindrical'mounting block or hub 283 which is fixed to the top of base 40 of the machine framework. Casing 28! houses the general drive means of the scraping mechanism and is mounted for both vertical adjustment and swinging movement about hub 283, the former for adjusting the height of the scraper to meet the edges of ware of various depths and the latter to adjust the scraper to act properly upon ware of different diameters.

As shown in Fig. 15, a hand wheel 285 is journaledin the upper wall of casing 28! and is internally threaded to receive an adjusting screw 286. The lower end of the adjusting screw 286 rotates in hub 283 and is notched at one side to receive a key 281 which also engages an external annular groove 288 in hub element 283. It will be seen from the foregoing that rotation of. hand wheel 285 will raise or lower the casing 28! by raising or lowering movement of the hand wheel relative to adjusting screw 286, the latter being axially immovable relative to the mounting hub 283 by reason of key 281, l

Referringto Fig. 1, a lever 289 is slotted to receive-a pivot pin which projects-downwardly from the bottom wall of casing 28! as at 298 and lever 289 is pivoted to the top of base 40 as at 29!. The outer portion of lever 289 may be ad- .justably locked to a quadrant 292-as at 293.

Loosening the'wing nut or other fastening at 293-permits manipulation of lever 289 to swing casing 28! about hub element-283 and thus move the scraper itself radially relative to ware on the turret at the scraping station to a position for proper scraping engagement with the ware. The flexibility of the scraper per se permits it to scrape the'edges of ware which is festooned or has otherwise irregularly ornamented edge formations in an entirely satisfactory manner with- .out other compensation than that afforded by flexing of the scraper as it traverses the irregular edges. v I

In Fig. 1 a chain. from the shaft 48 of the right angle drive unit 41 is designated 234 and engages a sprocket 295 fixed to a drive shaft 296 which extends through hubelement 283 and has a drive pinicn291 at its upper end. Referring to Fig. 15, a cam shaft 298 is journaled in the upper and lower walls of casing 28! and has thereon a pinion 299 in mesh with drive pinion 291. One or both of pinions 291 and 299 may have relatively wide faces to insure adequatemeshing engage- I ment despite the position of vertical adjustment 14 of casing 28! as determined by the setting of handwheel 285.

As mentioned previously herein, two scrapers 210 are illustrated in Fig. 1. The left-hand one, as there shown, is in an operative position, and the right-hand scraper is adapted to be positioned interchangeably in the working position in place of the one there shown in Fig. 1 in a manner and for reasons which will presently appear. Reference here is to the operative left-hand scraper 210 of Fig. 1. Periodic movement of the scraper 210 to the ware for each scraping cycle of operation from a withdrawn idle position is produced by means of a cam fixed to cam shaft 298 and designated 380 in Figs. 15 and 16.

A rock shaft 30! is journaled in the upper wall of casing 28! and has a cam follower arm 382 fixed thereto whose follower roller engages the periphery of cam 300. Above casing 28! rock shaft 30! has a second arm 303 fixed thereto, and the outer end thereof is bent upwardly as shown in Fig. 15 to engage against an arm 304 which is fixed to the pivot shaft 213 of block 212 beneath turntable 280. Arm 304 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 308. This is the idle position of scraper 210 and movement to operative scraping position is produced by engagement of arm 303 against arm 304 when the high part of the contour of cam 30!] is acting against follower arm 302.

To produce the horizontal rotative movement of scraper 210 described in conjunction with Fig. 18 previously herein, a cam 3!!! is fixed to the upper end of cam shaft 298 and acts against a follower roller 3! carried by an arm 3I2, which is fixed to a rock shaft 3! 3. Also fixed to rock shaft 3!3 is an arm designated 3!5 in Figs. 1 and 15, and the outer end of arm !5 carries an adjustable screw 3H5 whose lower end is arranged to have downward abutting engagement against wing 214 to rotate scraper 210 against the bias of spring 216. Cam 3!0 has two lobes, one higher than the other. The higher lobe acts against follower 3! first to depress wing 214 sufficientl to move the scraping edge of the blade to its lower extreme position, as at C in Fig. 18, and after wing 214 has been released through the passage of the higher lobe to permit the spring 216 to move the scraper to the position marked D in Fig. 18, the lesser lobe acts to return the blade downwardly to position B before the blade finally leaves the work.

To avoid the necessity of stopping the entire machine to change blades when a blade has become too dull for satisfactory use, means are provided for quickly bringing a new blade into proper working position while the blade which has been in use moves out of working position where it may be removed from turntable 280 for repair or replacement while the new blade takes over the scraping function. To this end means are provided for quickly indexing turntable 284 through when desired by manipulating a lever designated 320 in Fig. 1.

Cam shaft 298 carries a face cam 32! whose cam groove receives a follower 322 carried by an arm 323 pivoted to the casing 28! as at 324. Arm 323 has an extension 325 formed with a toothed sector 326 which meshes with a pinion 321 which is freely rotatable on a shaft 328 which is fixed to and rotatably supports turntable 284. A pawl arm 329 is fixed to pinion 321' and carries a pawl 330 which has a'tooth 33! for engagement in notches formed -in 'the periphery of anindexing wheel-333, the latter being fixed for rotation. with shaft 328 and turntable 284.

A spring-biased arm 334 carries a detent roller for yieldable engagement in the notches of the indexing wheel to retain it in properly indexed position. The pivotal connection between pawl 339 and pawl arm 329 has enough friction to cause pawl 339 to yieldably retain any pivotal position to which it is positively moved through operation of the indexing mechanism. Referring particularly to Fig. 16, the previously described indexing lever 329 is fixed to a rock shaft 335 which extends downwardly through the top of casing 281 and carries an arm 339 which is biased in a clockwise direction as view-ed in Fig. 16 by an extension coil spring 331. Lever 329 is manually movable toward and against a stop pin 349 against the resistance of spring 331 to place an offset lug 341, at the outer end of arm 333, in the path of a heel portion 342 formed on the back of pawl'339.

In normal operation of the scraping station, when the turntable 284 is not being indexed to position a new scraper in the working position, lever 329 with arm 333 are in the inactive position shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and pawl 339 is in a position out of engagement with the notches of indexing wheel 333, being swung somewhat counterclockwise from the position illustrated in Fig. 16. toothed sector 328 will oscillate through operation of cam 321, and pinion 321, with pawl arm 329, will oscillate through an angle slightly in excess of 180 but without effect on indexing wheel 333.

If, during this oscillation, lever 329 is manually operated to place lug 34| in the path of the heel portion 342 of pawl 339, then on the next counterclockwise oscillation of pawl arm 329, lug 34| will engage the side of heel 342 which is lowermost in Fig. 16, and pivot pawl 339 clockwise on awl arm 329 to cause the tooth 33! of pawl 339 to move into a registering notch in indexing wheel 333. On the next clockwise oscillation of pinion 321 and pawl arm 329, indexing wheel 333 will be rotated 189, carrying with it turntable 284 and thus positioning the opposite scraping implement in the working position.

At the beginning of the return counterclockwise oscillation of pawl arm 32 9, indexing wheel 333 will be resiliently restrained by the detent roller of arm 334, and the slanted rear surface of tooth 33! of pawl 339 will cam out of engagement with the notch of the indexing wheel and thus return pawl 339 pivotally to its idleposition, in which position it will remain through subsequent oscillation of the pawl arm until the index ng lever 329 is again manually operated.

The final finishing operation for smoothing off the rounded contour of the edges of ware establis'hed by the scraping step is the station previously designated generally 34 and is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 12 through 14'. Referring to Fig. 12, the final finishing apparatus is mounted upon a sliding base 315 which is mounted for lineal guided movement on a sub-base 319, the latter being fixed to plate element 51 of the machine framework. Sliding base 315 is arranged for sliding movement in a generally radial direction relative to the machine generally and. the table in particular'to adjust the meohanism'of this station for operation upon the edges of Ware of various diameters. A hand wheel 31B and a conventional screw type adjusting arrangement designated generally 319 acts betweenthesliding Under these conditions arm 325 and 16 base 315-and-sub-base 319 to accurately adjust the relative radial spacing. of this mechanism from the turret at this station;

Itis also desired toreadily adjust'the relative vertical position of the final finishing apparatus to properly position the mechanism for finishing the edges of ware of various depths .and to this end=a frame member 389 which generally supports the operating parts of the mechanism is pivotally connected to a rigid up-standing support 381 on base 315 bymeans of pairs'of parallel links 332 and 383. The upper links 382 include a downwardly projecting lug 394, and 'a screw 38'5Ywhich is threaded through support'38i' en gages against lug 334', so that'if screw 335' is screwed farther into support 38l the frame 389 andall of the mechanism carried thereby swings upwardly without disturbing its vertical attitude. The mass of frame 389 and its'associated'parts urges the-framework downwardly and therefore holds the lug-384 in abutment with the end of screw 385,.

Thefinalsmoothing of the previously scraped edge of the green chinaware is accomplished in a manner wholly novel to the pottery art bya form of dry abrasion which comprises applying to such edgesurface a rapidly moving tape. In the present instance set forth by way of example the tape is ordinary wovencloth. As shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, this smoothing element comprises .an endless belt or tape 391 which extends about a series of pulleys supported by frame member .389. Referring to Fig. 12 tape 391' passes over a drive pulley 388 and over a pair of adjacent idler pulleys 389 and 399 which provide an efficient angle of contact between the belt 391 and drive pulley 3813. Drive pulley 399 is adapted to be constantly driven from an independent driving motor 39L which is carried by frame member 389 and is connected to the mounting shaft of pulley 398 by a belt as at 392 in Fig. 12.

Pulleys 399 and 399 are mounted for rotative movement directly against the frame member 389 and their p vot s afts support a pair of swinging arms 394 and 3 5. respectively. The outer ends of arms 394 and 395 are provided with idler pulleys 399. and 391, respectively, which rest upon the belt 381 by force of gravity and thus serve as belt tensioning devices. Between fixed idler pulley'392 and the swinging tension idler pulley 396, belt399 passes over a further idler pulley 398 which is located relatively remotely on frame member 389 so as to increase the total belt length considerably. This lengthens the life of individual belts by distributing the wear over a greater length of belt and insures against any tendency of the belt to heat up unduly by frictional rubbing action against the ware.

The two final operating pulleys which control the rubbing or abrading action of belt 381 against the edge of the ware are designated 499'and 4! and are rotatably secured to a supporting arm 493 which shows most clearly in Fig. 13. A plate 496 is pivotally secured to frame 389 at one end as at 491 for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis. At its outer end plate 496 has a bearing 498 which pivotally supports a shaft 499. Shaft 499 has an offset extension 4| 9 which shows best in Fig. l, and extension 4! 9 connects rigidly with the arm 493 which supports pulleys 499 and 49 I.

An operating arm M2 is fixed to shaft 469 adjacent to hearing 498 of plate 493, and its outer end is pivotally engaged by a piston rod 414 of a pneumatic operating cylinder M5, the opposite asses i? end of which is pivoted to frame 380 as at 416. An extension coil spring 418 connects between the .lower end of cylinder 415 and a point on plate 406 adjacent to bearing formation 408. Upward pivotal movement of plate 406 is adjustably limited by engagement against a stop screw 420 carried by frame 380 and joint pivotal movement of shaft 409 and pulley-carrying arm 403 about the axis of shaft 409 is limited in a counterclockwise direction by a stop screw 421 which is adjustably secured to a bracket 422 which is fixed for rotation with shaft 409. The end of screw 421 engages against the upper surface of plate 406 to limit counterclockwise pivotal movement of shaft 409.

The operation of the pulley mechanism in approaching the ware and executing a final finishing cycle of operation is as follows. The initial idle position of this portion of the mechanism is shown in Fig. 14 wherein the portion of belt 38! extending between pulleys 400 and 401 is spaced clear of the edge of the ware. In this position, connecting rod 414 is in an extreme downward position by reason of pneumatic pressure applied to the top side of cylinder 415. Plate 406 is thus held in the downward position illustrated in Fig. 14, by the force of the piston rod acting through arm 412 and stop screw 421, against the resistance or upward pull of spring 418. r

As the piston of pneumatic cylinder 415 moves upward upon a reversal of the air pressure connections thereto, the plate 406 moves upwardly first about its pivotal connection 401. This movement is under the force of spring 418, and the action of piston rod 414 is actually merely permissive in this phase of movement. This move ment of plate 406 brings the working portion of belt 390 against the edge of the ware in a lowermost position as illustrated in Fig. 12. It may be observed that the center line or axis of shaft 409 is substantially coincident with the center of the radius of the edge of the ware when plate 406 is in the upper position shown in Figs. 12 and 12, as it appears best in the latter figure.

At this time further upward movement of plate 406 is prevented by abutment thereof against screw 420, so that continued upward pull of piston rod314 acts through arm 412 to rockshaft 409 is a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 to cause the tape carrying pulleys 400 and 401 to be revolved about the axis of shaft 409 by reason of their support from the offset extension 410 of shaft 409. This causes the portion of the belt which is in contact with the edge of the ware to pass smoothly around the edge of the rotating ware and abrade the same to. impart a smooth final finish to the edge. The revolving upward movement continues until the piston rod is in its fully up position and pulleys 401 and 402 are in the position illustrated in Fig. 13.

At this time a further reversal of the air connections of pneumatic cylinder 415 projects piston rod 414 downwardly and thus causes a reversal of rotation of shaft 409, and since plate 406 is still urged upwardly by spring 418, the pulley-carrying arm 403 is first rocked to the position of Fig. 12 to make a'second pass of the belt across the edge of the ware. Further continued downward movement of piston rod 414 after stop screw 421 comes into engagement with plate 406 causes the entire mechanism supported by plate 406 to swing downwardly against the resistance of pneumatic pressure to cylinder 415 is under the control of a cam, designated 430 in Fig. 3, which is mounted upon cam shaft 42 and operates upon a conventional air valve 431, the latter having an operating member including a cam follower 432.

Referring to Fig. 2, cams designated 435, 436, and 431 are fixed to vertical shaft 123 in column and act against the operating members of vacuum valves 438, 439, and 440, respectively, through cam followers 441, 442, and 443, also respectively. Valve 438 controls the timing of the application of sub-atmosphere pressure to vacuum pad 00 of pick-up arm 30; valve 439 controls the timing of the application of sub-atmospheric pressure to the suction pad 89 of turnover arm 8?; and valve 440 exercises a similar function in conjunction with the vacuum pad of discharge arm 38.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a scraper blade mounted for movement about an axis generally tangent to the ware, means for moving the ware supporting means and'the scraper blade relatively toward each other for scraping the edge of the rotating ware and means of oscillating the scraper during scraping to round off the edge of the ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an endless belt moving in a direction transverse to the edge of the ware and engageable against the edge of the rotating ware to smooth the edge by abrasion.

2. Apparatus I01 finishing the edges of generally circular dry uniired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a scraper b.ao.e mounted for movement about an axis generally tangent to the ware, means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper blade relatively toward each other for scraping the edge of the rotating ware and means for oscillating the scraper during scraping to round on the edge of the ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an abrading element engageable against the scraped edge of the rotating ware to smooth the same.

, 3. Apparatus for finishing the edges of general- 1y circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a scraper blade mounted for movement about an axis generally tangent to the ware, means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper blade relatively toward each other for scraping the edge of the rotating ware and means for oscillating the scraper during scraping to round off the edge of the ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an endless belt moving in a direction transverse to the edge of the ware and engageable against the edge of the rotating ware to smooth the edge by abrasion, and guide means for said belt movable to apply the belt progressively around the rounded edge of the ware.

4. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a scraper blade mounted for movement about an axis generally tangent to the ware, means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper blade relatively toward each other for scraping the edge of the rotating ware and means for oscillating the scraper during scraping to round oil, the edge of the ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an abrading element engageable against the edge of the rotating ware, and means for moving the abrading element to apply the same progresively around the rounded scraped edge of the ware. I

5. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a flexible scraper blade mounted for inevennent about an axis generally tangent to the, ware; means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper blade relatively toward each ether with the scraper mounted to drag yieldably along the edge of the rotating were. and means f r e eillatin th raper during scraping to round ft the edge of the ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an endless belt moving in a direction transverse to the e o the we e and engageable aga n the ed e of the otati we e tesinooth the edge by abrasion.

6. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired elay Ware Which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own'axiaa flexible scraper blade mounted for movement about an'axis generally tangent to the ware, means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper blade relatively toward each other with the scraper mounted to drag yieldably along the edge of the rotating ware, and means for oscillating the scraper during scraping to round off the edge of the ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an abrading element engageable against the scraped edge of the rotating ware to smooth the same.

7. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a scraper blade, means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper blade relatively toward each other for scraping the edge of the rotating ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an endless belt moving in a direction at right angles to the edge of the ware and engageable against the scraped edge of the rotating ware to smooth the same by abrasion.

8. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a scraper blade, means for moving the ware supporting means and'the scraper blade relatively toward each other for scraping the edge of' the rotating ware, and final edge finishing means comprising an abrading element engageable against the scraped edge of the rotating ware to smooth the same,

9. Apparatus for finishing the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of ware for rotation on its own axis, a flexibly mounted scraper and means for moving the ware supporting means and the scraper relatively toward each other with the scraper positioned to drag yieldably along the edge of the rotating ware to remove the rough edge therefrom, and final edge finishing means comprising an endless belt moving in a direction transverse to the edge of the, ware and engageable thereagainst while the ware. is rotatin to, smooth the edge of the. ware by abrasion.

10. Apparatus for finishing the rough edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises means for supporting a piece of. ware for rotation on its own axis, a flexibly mounted scraper and means for moving the ware support ing means and the scraper relatively toward each other with the scraper positioned to drag yieldably along the edge of the rotating ware to remove the rough edge therefrom, and final edge finishing means comprising an abrading element engageable against the scraped edge of the ware while the ware is rotating to smooth the same.

11. Apparatus for treating the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware to remove the rough edge therefrom comprising means for supporting the ware'for rotation on its own axis, a flexible scraper blade movable to and from engagement with the edges of successive pieces of ware, said scraper blade being mounted for rotation on an axis generally tangent to the edge of the ware, and; means, for oscillating the scraper on said last-mentioned axis to cause the scraper to traverse, the edge in a curved path between the upper and lower surfaces of the rotating ware at the edge thereof to round oif the latter.

12. Apparatus for treating. the edges of generally circular dry unfired claylw'are to remove the rough edge therefrom comprising means for supporting the ware for rotation on its own axis, a flexible scraper blade engageable with the edges of successive pieces of ware and mounted for rotation on an axis generally tangent. to the edge of the ware, and means for oscillating the scraper on said last-mentioned axis to cause the scraper to traverse the edge in a curved path between the upper and lower surfaces of the rotating ware at the edge thereof to round off the latter.

13. Apparatus for treating the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware to remove the rough outer edge therefrom comprising means for supporting the ware for rotation on its own axis, a flexibly mounted scraper blade movable to and from engagement with the edges of successive pieces of ware, and so arranged that in work-engaging position it drags flexibly along the edge of the rotating ware, said scraper blade being mounted for rotation on an axis generally tangent to the edge of the ware, and means for oscillating the scraper on said lastmentioned axis to cause the scraper to traverse the edge in a curved path between the upper and lower surfaces of the ware at the edge thereof to round off the latter.

14. Apparatus for treating the edges of generally circular dry unfired clay ware to remove the rough edge therefrom comprising means for supporting the ware for rotation on its own axis, a flexibly mounted scraper blade arranged to drag flexibly along the edge of the rotating ware, said scraper blade being mounted for rotation on an axis generally tangent to the edge of the ware, and means for oscillating the scraper on said last-mentioned axis to cause the scraper to traverse the edge in a curved path between the upper and lower surfaces of the ware at the edge thereof to round off the latter.

15. Apparatus for finishing generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises a rotatable support and a circular series of work holding devices disposed concentrically with the axis of the support, said support being rotatable periodicallyv to advance each work holding device to the position of the preceding work holding device, the positions of the several. work. holding devices when the support is at rest comprising a plurality of operating stations, means at one of said stations for scraping the edges of ware, means at a subsequent station for abrading the scraped edge surface, and means at said scraping and abrading stations for rotating the work holding devices to rotate the ware about its axis during scraping and abrading.

16. Apparatus for finishing generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises a rotatable support and a circular series of work holding devices disposed concentrically with the axis of the'support, said support being rotatable periodically to advance each work holding device to the position of the preceding work holding device, the positions of the several work holding devices when the support is at rest comprising a plurality of operating stations, means at one of said stations for scraping the edges of ware, means at a subsequent station for abrading the scraped edge surface, means atsaid scraping and abrading stations for rotating the work holding devices to rotate the ware about its axis during scraping and abrading, and means at said scraping and abrading stations for rotating the scraping and abrading means about axes generally tangent to the edge of the ware to cause the scraping and abrading means to traverse the generally rounded edges of ware.

17. Apparatus for finishing generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises a rotatable support and a circular series of work holding devices disposed concentrically with the axis of the support, said support being rotatable periodically to advance each work, holding device to the position of the preceding work holding device, the positions of the several work holding devices when the support is at rest comprising a plurality of operating stations, means at one of said stations for scraping the edges of ware comprising a flexible scraping blade mounted to drag yieldably along the edge of rotating ware, means at a subsequent station for abrading the scraped edge surface, and means at said scraping and abrading stations for rotating the work holding devices to rotate the ware about its axis during scraping and abrading.

18. Apparatus for finishing generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises a rotatable support and a circular series of work holding devices disposed concentrically with the axis of the support, said support being rotatable periodically to advance each work holding device to the position of the preceding work holding device, the positions of the several work holding devices when the support is at rest comprising a plurality of operating stations, means at one of said stations for scraping the edges of ware, belt means at a subsequent station for abrading the scraped edge surface by movement across said edge surface, and means at said scraping and abrading stations for rotating the work holding devices to rotate the ware about its axis during scraping and abrading.

19. Apparatus for finishing generally circular dry unfired clay ware which comprises a rotatable support and a circular series of work holding devices disposed concentrically with the axis of the support, said support being rotatable periodically to advance each work holding device to the position of the preceding work holding de-- vice, the positions of the several Work holding devices when the support is at rest comprising a plurality of operating stations, means at one of said stations for scraping the edges of ware comprising a flexible scraping blade mounted to drag yieldably along the edge of rotating ware, belt means at a subsequent station for abrading the scraped edge surface by movement across said edge surface, and means at said; scraping and abrading stations for rotating the work holding devices to rotate the ware about its axis during scraping and abrading. v r

20. In the manufacture of chinaware or pottery, the method of finishing the rough edges of dry, unfired clay ware of generally circular outline which comprises rotating the ware and scraping the edge thereof to impart the proper general edge contour thereto, and subsequently polishing the scraped surface by moving a dry band having the surface characteristics of cloth relatively rapidly thereacross.

21. In the manufacture of chinaware or pottery, the method of finishing the rough edges of ware of generally circular outline in the dried unfired state which comprises rotating the ware and scraping the edge thereof to impart the proper general edge contour thereto, and subsequently polishing the scraped surface by moving a dry band having the surface characteristics of cloth relatively rapidly there across.

22. In the manufacture of chinaware or pottery, the method of polishing the edges of dry, unfired clay ware of generally circular outline which comprises rotating the ware and simultaneously moving a dry band having the abrasive .characteristics of cloth relatively rapidly thereacross.

23. In the manufacture of chinaware or pottery, the method of finishing the edges of ware of generally circular outline in the dried, unfired green state which comprises rotating the ware and scraping the edge thereof to impart the proper general edge contour thereto, and subsequently polishing the scraped surface by subjecting it to abrasion.

24. In the manufacture of chinaware or pottery, the method of finishing the rough edges of dry, unfired clay ware of generally circular outline which comprises rotating the ware and scraping the rough edge therefrom, and subse quently polishing the scraped surface by subjecting it to abrasion.

HOWARD G. ALLEN. ROBERT W. WATKIN. STANLEY KUFEL, JR. EDWARD I. FISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

